Large Scale War in China Is Over

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1949, Page 5

Large Scale War in China Is Over

Received Thursday, 9.35 p.m. NANIvING, March 3. The Communist radio, ' quoting the North China commander, General Lin Piao, said large scale war in China was over. He said the swiftness of the defeat of the Nationalist forces was beyond Communist expectations. Gen eral Lin claimed that the Kuomintang armies were smashed and eould not organise a strategic line of defence southward of the Yangtse. Ile added that the. Communist Party would realise the genuine peace which the people demanded, not a peace with the Yangtse River as the boundary. The radio claimed that the Kuomintang had organised 10,000 secret police in the Shanghai-Nanking area uno along the communication lines to Can ton. Premier Sun Fo announced today that the Communists had agreed to tulk peace with the Nationalists some time after March 15, reports the United Press correspondent. Premier Sui. Fo added that negotiations would- be on a " basis of equality. ' ' Reuter 's eqrrespondeht ,says P.remfe; Sun Fo announced that Li Tsung-jen had appointed a ten-man committee tc draft peace measures lor subiuissiou i ti the Communists. He added that Li Tsung-jen took the decision after re-

ceiving a report from the Shangha. non-partisan delegation on its recent exehange of views on peace with the Communist leaders. The drafting hari begun and was expected to be eornpleted in about 8 to 10 days. The Premier said: "With the view of obtaining a durable peace for all our people and the view of China contn buting to the peace of the world, wq are seeking an honourable peace. History and experience amply demonstrate that only an honourable peact will be a genuine peace. A unilaterally dictated peace is not only difficult to achieve but also is not durable."